Fragment (5): Jerry

(for Jerry Friesen)

_________

"The runner"

Long as the slope feels right and a stride can bite

& a tail-wind's favourable,

with spring hostas and grass along the way(& love of sky

going dearly before),

then I can run!—

& even as the thunderhead's

snarly fifes take over lakes

& the cars' brash ferocities, too, nose round me

at every mile,

still there's breath that means to go on

and the road ahead

-(same long sun-loving one) -

spun to entice him

'cause added to it,

at every mile, is likewise a drama too

of aspen shades and even a Lady,

to salute me in the rain, wind;

or moles in a winding ditch;

or leaf hoppers startled

to their knees;

or teens, all teeth & gauche hate,

waiting just for me,

a roving Aeneas, alone in the world, a warm body on legs

who’s laughed at in spades

For the day's the same, howso'er it meet with steep slopes,

and dandelion yards,

and a runner with eyes for a dear blue sky,

who'll gladly turn home

when the tall winds die